Report: Club not against Arsenal target leaving in player-plus-cash deal

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Arsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic, with CBS Sports reporting that Fiorentina are not against the idea of letting the striker leave in a player-plus-cash deal this month.

CBS Sports reports that Vlahovic is the Gunners’ top striker target in this window. They are looking amid uncertainty over the futures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.

It was reported this week that Arsenal are prepared to spend big to land Vlahovic. In fact, the Daily Mirror suggested that the club were willing to offer more than £70 million.

But CBS Sports suggests that there is another way that may not cost the Gunners quite as much.

Lucas Torreira is currently on loan with the Serie A side. And CBS Sports reports that Arsenal are ready to offer £44 million plus Torreira in a bid for Vlahovic. Torreira is valued at £12.5 million.

More money is required. But the report adds that I Viola are not against a deal that sees Torreira join them permanently. However, Fiorentina would want as much as £7.3 million also added to the offer Arsenal are prepared to make.

Lucas Torreira and £51.3m for Dusan Vlahovic would be outstanding business for Arsenal

Of course, there is an element of risk attached to any move. Vlahovic is still incredibly young. And clearly, he is untested in the Premier League.

However, he is someone being spoken about as a £70 million-plus star. Micah Richards recently described him as a ‘ridiculous‘ player. So it could be a masterstroke if the Gunners can arrange a player-plus-cash deal.

Torreira looks to be done at the Emirates. So it would be a huge boost if he could knock off a chunk of the potential transfer fee for Vlahovic.

There is clearly still plenty for Arsenal to do. But it is incredibly encouraging that Fiorentina are not shutting the door on a potential swap.